By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, MAR 9: The much-awaited Meghalaya Draft Sports Policy, 2017 was tabled in the state Assembly today where stakeholders have been invited to provide inputs to improve the policy.
Tabling the policy, sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma said the policy would remain opened for inputs till March 31 before it is finalized by the sports department. He also appealed to members to submit their views and suggestions.
The 64-page policy, which highlights the necessity to create sports infrastructure and support facilities as priorities, has proposed creation of dedicated sports schools in districts to organise sports talents development programme.
At the same time, it has provided for a lifetime achievement award carrying a cash prize of Rs 5 crore to a maximum of one sportsperson every year for exceptional repeated performance at the Olympics.
“A lifetime achievement award with a cash prize of Rs 1 crore will be given to one coach in a year under whose coaching an athlete has produced exceptional performances at Olympics,” the policy said.
Moreover, the policy has stipulated a cash prize of Rs 30 lakh to be rewarded in a year to the coach under whose coaching an athlete has produced exceptional performances at the ASIAD/Commonwealth/ World Championship level.
To bear these expenses, the policy sought introducing of a Sports Cess, as is the case with education, to generate funds required for extending financial support to sportspersons and creation, maintenance and management of infrastructure.
At the same time, the policy stipulates the possibility of extending application of schemes like MGNREGA and provision in CSR under Companies Act 2013 to create Sports Infrastructure at schools, village and community level.
Further, the policy has sought identifying archery, boxing, taekwondo, judo and football as priority disciplines considering their popularity and the medal winning capabilities.
The sports policy also sought funding of Rs 3.9 crore beginning from 2017-18 to at least 12 sports associations for upkeep of infrastructure and procuring consumables and the same amount be reduced to Rs 1.9 crore in the next financial year.
Another highlight of the policy is the need for a database for athletes’ performance to monitor the status of performance of athletes, to plan measures and to evaluate the impact of those measures.
The policy has also highlighted the need for a dedicated anti-doping agency of the state which would be directly reporting to NADA (National Anti-Doping Agency).
The agency would be fully equipped with collection and testing of samples as per guidelines and protocols provided by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and will reveal the results only with due permission of NADA.
It further recommended the need to have legal framework against discrimination, sexual harassment and child protection.
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